America is known by many monikers, such as the land of the free, the home of the brave, land of dreams and opportunities, inspiring people from around the world who are ambitious or are driven to pursue their goals. Many even aspire to move to this country because of these reasons. However, to live, work or even travel in the U.S. safely, it is important to know which places are considered “not safe” or “dangerous” to live in.
Crime rate is one of the factors to determine which place is dangerous. Based on FBI reports that show the number of murders and property crime rates in each city per 100,000 people, below is the list of the most dangerous places in America.
Memphis, Tennessee
Population: 621,056
Memphis is a city known for its rich musical heritage, but the crime rate can be hard to accept. It is ranked the most dangerous city in the United States, with a violent crime rate of 24.37 per 1,000 people, where aggravated assault is the most frequent crime. According to Wreg.com, as of the first 100 days of 2024, there have been 100 homicides in the city. Also, as per Fox13memphis, the number of women killed in the city in 2024 has doubled compared to last year.
St. Louis, Missouri
Population: 286,578
The city has a violent crime rate of 14.70 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assaults making up the majority of violent offenses. In 2024, 77 homicides were reported so far, which is higher than the previous year. There has been a significant rise in murders during January and April.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Population: 202,864
Although Little Rocky is a charming city, its crime rate might surprise you. The city holds the third place with a violent crime rate of 18.25 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assault accounting for the majority of violent crimes.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Population: 425,096
Minneapolis, which is known for its vibrant cultural spots, faces significant safety concerns. The violent crime rate in this city is 12.45 per 1,000 people, with aggravated assaults being the primary issue. The number of homicides in the city remained constant at 15 as of March 31, 2024, the same as it was last year.
Detroit, Michigan
Population: 620,376
Once a thriving industrial city known for its automotive output, historic buildings and Motown music, Detroit started facing a struggle in the 1970s due to economic decline, with population falling by 63% between 1950 and 2015. The violent crime rate reached 2,056.67 per 100,000 people by 2019 due to job losses and rising poverty.
The city has started to bounce back, and the crime rate has decreased since then. However, it still ranks sixth as the most dangerous city in the United States, with a violent crime rate of 20.59 per 1,000 residents, where aggravated assaults and robberies are prevalent.
Kansas City, Missouri
Population: 509,297
Kansas City is known for its world-famous barbecue and jazz music, but its crime rate is not very appealing due to a significant volume of violent crimes. The violent crime rate in the city stands at 14.83 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assaults as the primary concern. As per Kansascity.com’s report, as of 2024, the city’s metro area has recorded 94 homicides.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Population: 369,749
New Orleans is known for its rich culture and vibrant life, but its crime rate remains a significant concern. The city’s violent crime rate is 14.46 per 1,000 residents, considerably higher than the national average, with aggravated assaults being a significant issue.
Check out the link in our bio for the full report on NOPD response times for property incidents and violent incidents from 2022-2024.@NOPDNews @orleansparishda @CrimestopperGNO @veritenewsnola @TheLensNOLA pic.twitter.com/vx9nLqVUWp
— MetroCrimeNOLA (@MetroCrimeNOLA) June 6, 2024
Cleveland, Ohio
Population: 361,607
Once a place where immigrants thrived and a powerhouse of industry, Cleveland now faces a significant concern with its crime rate. The city has a high rate of violent crimes at 16.27 per 1,000 people, with aggravated assaults being the primary issue. Despite the decrease in the percentage of homicides and overall crime, youth violence has increased.
Birmingham, Alabama
Population: 196,910
The violent crime rate in Birmingham is high at 16.94 per 1,000 people, largely driven by aggravated assaults, as the large city faces economic disparities that contribute to the crime rate. According to Bhamwiki, as of 2024, the Birmingham Police Department has recorded 63 chargeable homicides. In 34 cases, suspects have been identified and 30 arrests were made. According to a report released in March 2024, Birmingham has been ranked the most dangerous city in national rankings.
Houston, Texas
Population: 2,302,878
The city’s violent crime rate is 11.35 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assault being the primary issue. It is said that residents have a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Although violent crime in the city has decreased by 8.3%, property crime has seen a rise of 8.6%.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Population: 563,305
Milwaukee, which is known for its brewing history, has a violent crime rate of 15.18 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assault being the main issue. The city’s population has been steadily declining, a situation worsened by the high violent crime rate.
Orlando, Florida
Population: 316,081
Orlando is a tourist paradise, despite this, the city has a higher-than-average crime rate. Orlando’s violent crime rate is 8.30 per 1,000 residents, with property crime like burglary and motor vehicle theft and theft of personal property being significant issues. The city has a violent crime rate of 44.1 and a property crime rate is 81, both of which are higher than the national averages of 22.7 and 35.4, respectively.
Baltimore, Maryland
Population: 569,931
Baltimore is a city of charm; however, the crime rates are alarming. The city’s violent crime rate is 15.55 per 1,000 residents, with aggravated assaults being the most common offense. While in April 2024, the city recorded 11 homicides and 41 non-fatal shootings, in March 2024, 16 homicides and 31 non-fatal shootings were reported.
Atlanta, Georgia
Population: 499,127
Although Atlanta’s bustling city has plenty to offer, its safety has been a major concern. The city has a violent crime rate of 8.64 per 1,000 people, with aggravated assaults being the most common offense.
Stockton, California
Population: 321,819
Stockton is a city with a lot of potential; however, the crime rates reveal a troubling reality. Aggravated assault is the main concern, contributing to a violent crime rate of 11.79 per 1,000 residents. According to the FOX40 report, as of May 2024, the number of homicides has already reached nearly half of the total recorded in the previous year.
New York
Population: 1,694,251
New York, known as the city that never sleeps, has a moderate violent crime rate of 8.18 per 1,000 people, with Grand larceny being the primary issue. The NYPD reported approximately 37,800 major crimes, including murder, felony assault, burglary, rape, grand larceny and grand larceny auto, between January 1, 2024 and April 28, 2024.
Phoenix, Arizona
The fifth-largest city in the U.S., Phoenix has a high violent crime rate of 8.23 per 1,000 people, with aggravated assaults being the primary concern.
Los Angeles, California
Population: 3,822,238
One of the largest cities in the U.S., Los Angeles struggles with a notable violent crime rate of 8.38 per 1,000 people, particularly aggravated assaults being the primary issue.
Las Vegas
Population: 656,274
The city of bustling nightlife and casinos, Las Vegas struggles with high crime rates. The city’s overall violent crime rate is relatively low at 5.18 per 1,000 people, but it is still higher than the national average.
